By Ciara Azure​​Euthanasia is the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. Euthanasia is illegal in most of the Unites States. States that authorize euthanasia are Washington, Oregon, Vermont, New Mexico and Montana. Euthanization is illegal most places because it’s considered “cruel and inhumane.”Physician-assisted suicide is the voluntary termination of one’s own life by administration of a lethal substance with direct or indirect assistance of a physician. This process is legal and is not considered “cruel and inhumane.” The only real difference between these processes is the person who performs the act that kills the patient. In euthanasia, the doctor performs the final act for the patient. In a physician-assisted suicide, the doctor prescribes medication or an injection to the patient and the patient administers it themselves. Personally, I think the processes are similar enough that if one is legal, then both should be. I think euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide should both be legal because they can help patients when they are in pain or have no other options because they will die anyway. If a person is in tremendous pain and there’s a slim chance of them living, either euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide would be a good option for them with their consent. Euthanasia should always be an option in those situations whether the patient wants it or not. If a patient requests euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide with a very logical reason, then they should be allowed to do it. However, if a patient is suicidal and does not have an actual medical issue that risks their life and they ask for euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide, then that should not be authorized. I agree with euthanization and physician-assisted suicide if a patient is in any sort of intense physical pain and/or if there is no other medical process that could possibly save them and it is requested.